Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:84 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of generic drugs and medicines dispensed by the general medical services scheme and the drugs refund scheme in 2001. [19560/02]
Written Answers. - Drug Payments Scheme.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the drug payments scheme, DPS, which was introduced on 1 July 1999 and replaced the drug refunds scheme, DRS, and drug cost subsidisation scheme, DCSS. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Total number of items prescribed under the general medical services scheme – 25,656,314; total number of generic items prescribed under the general medical services scheme – 5,363,002, or 20.90%; total number of items prescribed under the drug payments scheme – 8,599,098; total number of generic items prescribed under the drug payments scheme – 986,136, or 11.47%.